Inside The Bills

The release of popular safety Aaron Williams wasn’t an easy decision for the organization, but head coach Sean McDermott said it was a football decision, not one based on his health coming off a pair of neck injuries.

“It’s a football decision, he said. “Strictly a football decision, and that’s what I talk about [when I say] the tough part of the business. That’s the toughest part of my job, is when guys leave this building. I said last week, when you look at Aaron’s career when he left Texas – it’s a great career and he’s done a lot for this organization so we wish Aaron well and we’re moving forward as an organization and as a football team.”

The NFL Combine commences next week. We’ll have full coverage here on Buffalobills.com from Indy. Let’s get to your questions from email at AskChris@bills.nfl.net and on Twitter at @ChrisBrownBills.

1 – How does the Bills present personnel stack up for going back to a 4-3 defense? Presumably Dareus and Kyle Williams would be the tackles, but are the other defensive linemen currently on the roster suitable to play end in a 4-3, and how do the current linebackers fit such a scheme?

Duane Tananbaum

CB: It’s my contention that the personnel is better suited to a 4-3 defensive front, especially the defensive linemen. Dareus and Kyle will be given the opportunity to get up the field and penetrate. Shaq Lawson said he prefers a 4-3 scheme since that’s what he played in at Clemson. Jerry Hughes has had his most productive seasons as a Bills player in a 4-3 scheme.

2 – Dear Chris:

With the hiring of Leslie Frazier as defensive coordinator, do you think we’ll be running his defense or McDermott’s with Frazier calling the plays? I know both are DCs and don’t want “to many cooks in the kitchen” again like last year. Also do you know if Kyle Williams likes these guys enough to comeback.

John S.

CB: I think one of the main reasons that Leslie Frazier was so attractive to McDermott as a candidate is because there is a good amount of carry over between the two schemes they’ve employed over the years. It’s my belief that it will be more of McDermott’s approach that will be implemented in Buffalo.

And as far as too many cooks in the kitchen, that won’t be an issue. McDermott is extremely thorough and any and all duties and responsibilities will be clearly spelled out for everyone on the staff.

Kyle had positive comments on McDermott after he spoke with him a couple of times by phone. Hopefully it’s enough to convince to keep playing.

3 – Chris,

If Aaron Williams can’t make it back next season and decides to retire, will the Bills see any kind of cap relief from his contract?

Thanks,
Tom

CB: He’d be a cap savings of just over $1.7M if he retired. That wouldn’t be much on a projected cap of $168.1M.

4 – CB
Besides QB, there are few positions groups lacking depth or set to be free agents. How do you think the team will address CB, S, right tackle, OLB, and WR. Gilmore, Woods and possibly Zach Brown will command money and I’m not sure they can be retained.

It seems a large task for Whaley to fill positions with so many free agents. The Bills will have to spend money to retain players. Which positions will be filled during the draft or free agency. How aggressive will they be during free agency to find players that fit the new coaches’ scheme?

Josh P.

CB: I think as they have done in years past they’ll be fiscally prudent in signing free agents. They’ll stay away from the high-priced players that are in high demand and focus on the tier two type players that are more affordable and offer better value.

5 – @ChrisBrownBills As much as I LOVE the top 10 talent in the draft, should we trade down to get more picks?

Love your insight, Thanks!

Charlee DeGeorge
@CharleeDegeorge

CB: Thanks for the kind words. I’d be in favor of trading back and collecting more picks. The Bills did a good job of that in 2013 when they traded back in round one and got Kiko Alonso out of the deal in round two. I think the likelihood of that happening will hinge on how the picks fall in front of Buffalo at 10, not only in terms of the prospects the Bills like who may or may not be there, but for other NFL teams with a prospect in mind looking to get up to 10.

New Era is giving fans the opportunity to compete in three ultimate tailgating games! Starting at 9:30AM Sunday in the Activation Lot, competitors will be given the chance to win some awesome prizes.

In the first tailgating game, Oversized Pong, six large garbage cans will be set up in a triangle formation. If challengers sink all three shots, they’ll win a hat voucher to the New Era Field Store. If two shots are made, New Era swag will be won. Sink one shot or none at all? That’s okay! Every lucky participant will receive a koozie!

In the second game, Bean Bag Toss, fans will have three opportunities to sink a bean bag and win! In New Era’s third and final tailgating game, Flip Cap, competitors will flip three caps to land them right-side up. Prizes awarded to winners are the same for all three games.

New Era is also launching the fifth cap in our exclusive New Era Field series – this one is custom created by Aaron Williams. The cap will be available for sale at New Era Field this Sunday.

Prime time game for the Bills on Monday night. Tough place to play, but hopefully they put their best performance together in all three phases for this one. Let’s get to your questions from email at AskChris@bills.nfl.net and on Twitter at @ChrisBrownBills.

1 – @ChrisBrownBillsdo you see the #billspicking up Tyrod’s option if they finish at or below .500 & don’t make playoffs?

Ben Reich
@Ben_Reich

CB: I know there have been a lot of opinions about where this team should go with Tyrod Taylor moving forward. The expectations were high and the passing game has taken a step back this season. I don’t think there’s any debate about that. Not having Sammy Watkins in the lineup is certainly a factor, along with just about every member of the supporting cast in the passing game missing some time.

Here’s what every Bills fan that wants to move on from Tyrod Taylor needs to think about no matter what the Bills record is at the end of the season.

Can you do better?

I understand fans WANT better production and more consistent production from the quarterback position. But the bigger question is CAN you find better production and more consistent production in another quarterback?

Any quarterback in the draft is just a projection, an educated guess. Set to become free agents are QBs like Case Keenum, Kirk Cousins, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brian Hoyer (injured), Geno Smith, Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder.

Everyone has an opinion on the quarterbacks listed above, but one would be hard pressed to say that you could do better drawing from that list.

I do still want to see more from Taylor and there’s a half of a season to play. So let’s see what he provides and hopefully it convinces everyone one way or the other.

I just think before anyone decides to toss him overboard that you see what the alternatives are and think long and hard about what you’re wishing for and what’s really out there.

2 – @ChrisBrownBills

It seems as though @ajwilliams23 was the leader in secondary, who do you see stepping up and fillin that leader role #Bills

As far as leadership however, Corey Graham is a more than capable leader and a vocal one at that. So in terms of veteran leadership they’re covered there.

3 – @ChrisBrownBills

Is Dareus tradeable this offseason? Large contract to unload but even if we could walk from it for someone else with those $

BC72
@bchud1972

CB: Short answer here. Not tradeable. If you traded him you would have more than $45M in dead money accelerate onto your cap. Not a viable option. Not an option next year either. Dead cap money would still be upwards of $32M.

4 – @ChrisBrownBillswhat should we expect from Percy this week? What’s the timetable on Sammys return?

Jon Snow 2016@RobRage38

CB: I think if Harvin plays we’re going to see a package of plays from him, something like 15-20 plays. While he is in shape to perform like we’re used to seeing Harvin perform, I don’t think he’s in the kind of football shape that would allow him to play 50-60 plays on Monday night. I think you risk exposing him to injury if that kind of demand is put on him after not being in a football setting for more than a calendar year.5 – @ChrisBrownBillsIs Reggie Bush going to be KR/PR? Powell?

Kevin@KevinMassare

CB: With Brandon Tate not expected to play Monday night (concussion protocol) Reggie Bush would be the next man up on kick return. Mike Gillislee is another consideration there. If he dresses for Monday night there’s always a chance that Percy Harvin gets a crack on a return as well.

1 – @ChrisBrownBills
All week the Boston sports talk is saying how Rex thinks he won SB with 1st game vs NE. What are his thoughts on that?

Bill Pesiridis@Vasili8

CB: I think Rex would laugh first. Then he’d disagree. So the folks in the New England area know, after they shut out the Patriots in Week 4, there was zero celebration in Buffalo’s locker room. They had just evened their record at 2-2 after a disappointing 0-2 start.

As important as New England fans believe their team is, the Bills did not attach any added significance to the victory. They knew who wasn’t playing. In fact Rex even referenced that specifically after the game that Tom Brady was not available.

So if Patriots fans and talking heads on the radio want to characterize Rex as a coach that overblows victories they can, but they’d be wrong in this particular case. If anything Rex and his team took a page out of the New England playbook after that victory because all they were talking about was their upcoming game against Los Angeles in Week 5.

CB: While foolish penalties were definitely a problem for the Bills in 2015, it’s not nearly as big an issue this season. Through the first seven games Buffalo ranks 18th in the league in penalties, so more than half the teams in the league have been flagged more than the Bills.

In fact Rex Ryan’s team has been flagged six fewer times than their opponents this season (49 to 55).

So I think they’re capable of avoiding dumb penalties. They did that last week when the undisciplined Dolphins were getting flagged for a lot of extra-curricular activity after the whistle.

3 – @ChrisBrownBills any news on a trade for a wr?

Marc Gump@GumpHutch

CB: The problem is at this time of year it’s a seller’s market. Teams looking to acquire a piece for their team are not dealing from a position of strength. The trade deadline is coming and they need help, like the Bills. So most other NFL clubs that are being propositioned are going to force those teams to overpay for an asset.

That being said, Bills GM Doug Whaley said in a radio interview Friday morning on Bills flagship station WGR Sportsradio 550 that it’s been “rather quiet” on the trade market despite a lot of media speculation.

He did say they will work the phones and if something comes up that they think can help their situation they won’t hesitate.4 – @ChrisBrownBills Any idea what the plan is at safety? Blanton/Williams combo?

Andrew Galley@aGalley_64

CB: I’d be surprised if Aaron Williams plays this week after his neck injury last Sunday. When he exited the game Robert Blanton was the first guy in to replace him and then he was subbed out in favor of Jonathan Meeks. Neither player really stood out in the loss to Miami.

Perhaps the defensive staff will use a rotation there based on down and distance and personnel packages like they did at the beginning of the season. Through the first two weeks of the season all four safeties rotated in to play alongside Corey Graham.

Back then it was done to steadily blend Aaron back into the scheme after he missed most of training camp with a concussion. This time around it could be to maximize the strengths of each of his replacements and minimize their weaknesses.

Of course one thing to consider is how New England goes up tempo and prevents their opponents from making personnel substitutions. So they may have to decide on one guy being the main replacement.

5 – @ChrisBrownBills

Not quite sure how all these IR, PUP, list work. But any chance that Sammy can come back this season?

jason plunkett@j_plunk

CB: The Bills have the opportunity to bring one player back off injured reserve to begin practicing after they have been out for six weeks and they’re eligible to activate them to play in a game after they have been out eight weeks.

Whether Sammy Watkins can be that player will be up to the team’s medical staff.

Head coach Rex Ryan did confirm this week that Watkins is out of his walking boot, and that it is an encouraging sign. Whether that enhances his chances of returning is probably too early to determine.

The first eligible date that Watkins could return to practice if deemed healthy enough to do so would be the Friday of the bye week (Nov. 11th). The first date he could dress for a game, again if he’s medically cleared, would be Nov. 27th against the Jaguars.

Bills safety Aaron Williams did not sustain a concussion in taking that vicious hit from Miami’s Jarvis Landry last week, but he did suffer a neck injury. Knowing Williams had neck fusion surgery this past offseason, head coach Rex Ryan has concerns that his injury could prove to be long term.

“Yeah I think so,” said Ryan after Thursday’s practice. “I don’t think there’s any doubt that there are some long term concerns there.”

Ryan gave indication that Williams injury might be more of a week to week than day to day thing, but didn’t want to be pinned down on a specific timetable.

Williams missed a second straight day of practice and is unlikely to play Sunday against New England.

Bills safety Aaron Williams, who left the game in the first half after a vicious hit on a Miami running play deep in Buffalo territory by WR Jarvis Landry, was taken to a hospital for a precautionary MRI during the game. He re-joined the team to travel back to Buffalo Sunday evening.

Both his head and neck were being examined by the team’s medical staff.

Bills center Eric Wood hosted his second annual Flights and Bites event in downtown Buffalo on Monday, Oct. 17. The event, which followed the team’s big win over the San Francisco 49ers, featured many players who chose to spend their time off supporting their teammate. Coming together for a good cause, the evening consisted of both silent and live auctions to benefit the Eric Wood Foundation, which seeks to provide aid to families of sick children.

“Just a fun…Monday night, (it’s a) chance for a lot of the guys and coaches to come out and interact with a lot of the fans and raise money for sick children and their families here in Western New York,” said Wood. Especially after a win yesterday (Sunday, Oct. 16), the spirits are always high and people are in the giving spirit in times like that.”

1 – @ChrisBrownBills was Reggie Ragland outperforming Zach Brown at camp, or was he slated to start due to the resources invested in him?

@Bills_Chick

CB: Reggie Ragland was one of the most instinctive run defending rookies I’ve seen at the linebacker position in a while. Ragland has a much more physical game than Zach Brown and I think that’s what was most appealing to the defensive staff. I believe even if Ragland was healthy that Brown would’ve seen time on obvious passing downs due to his coverage ability.

Ragland out of the gate was probably one of the two best run defending linebackers on the roster with Preston Brown. That’s why he was in the starting lineup.

2 –@ChrisBrownBills Sir when you can, please let us fans know when Shaq going to play & Listenbee?

@buffsyear70

CB: I fully anticipate that Shaq Lawson will begin practicing with the team next week, but to think he’s going to play at Miami next Sunday after three or four days of practice I believe is a bit unrealistic, even though head coach Rex Ryan talked about Lawson playing right away in Week 7.

We have to remember that Lawson did not participate in a single team practice. His shoulder required surgery after a rookie minicamp practice. He’s never been on the field with any of the other players on defense. He’s never physically repped this defensive scheme with teammates, let alone at game speed.

I would expect him to at least get a couple of weeks of practice in before they begin to blend him into the defensive rotation. My guess would be the New England game provided he comes along and executes consistently in practice.

As for Listenbee, Ryan expressed doubt that he would be practicing any time soon. Here was his comment on Wednesday this week about Listenbee’s availability to practice.

“I don’t have the confidence with that as I do with Shaq,” Ryan said.

Listenbee has had some setbacks in his recovery from double sports hernia surgery. Every case is different and it appears that Listenbee’s recovery is going to take a little longer. If his inability to practice stretches beyond Week 10 then he won’t see the field at all this season.

3 – @ChrisBrownBills will the Bills open up the passing game more this week? Don’t remember too many deep throws past couple weeks

@A_Smolka_17

CB: The only deep shots I remember was the overthrow to Woods when he had his man beat down the left sideline in the second half last week and there was another to Goodwin that didn’t connect. I’d like to think there will be a couple more just to loosen up the defense. The 49ers though are really struggling to stop the run, so their weakness on defense kind of plays into Buffalo’s hands, so don’t expect the ball to be flying all that much.

4 – @ChrisBrownBills what’s up with Aaron Williams? Didn’t he leave last week’s game with a shoulder injury?

J Christensen-Sharpe@Snowbird_Killer

CB: Last week Aaron Williams left the game with what was reported by the team as a shoulder injury and he was questionable to return. But on the next defensive series Williams was back at his safety position and finished the game.

This week he has an ankle injury and has been limited in practice, but is expected to start.

5 – @ChrisBrownBills do you see an increased role for Bush anytime soon or are his days in Buffalo possibly numbered?

Nathan Bonner@NateB422

CB: They have certain packages in the offense designed with Reggie Bush in mind, but for whatever reason they’ve chosen not to make use of those to this point. I wouldn’t go so far as to say his days are numbered. I think he’s good insurance behind LeSean McCoy because he’s the only back on the roster that can do some of what McCoy can do.

Duke Williams got the start opposite Corey Graham at safety Sunday, but a rotation soon followed. A rotation in which all of their safeties dressed for the game (Colt Anderson was inactive) saw time on defense. Head coach Rex Ryan said it was by design, in part to get Aaron Williams back up to speed in small doses. There also seemed to be a package element to the substitutions as well. In any event here’s a look at the snap count breakdown by safety.

We’re on the cusp of preseason game number one for the Bills as they host the Colts Saturday night at 7 pm at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Here is the latest edition of your questions from email at AskChris@bills.nfl.net and on Twitter at @ChrisBrownBills.

1 – @ChrisBrownBills

Is Aaron Williams’ injury potentially serious? If so, how long would he miss?

@kevinwh1te3

CB: We do not yet know the severity of Williams’ injury sustained at practice Thursday night. He was being evaluated for a possible concussion. We hope to learn more soon, but I think this all but guarantees he will not see any action at safety Saturday night.

2 – @ChrisBrownBills

How has Aaron Williams looked in camp so far?

@JaredBailey23

CB: Williams has admitted that he is taking the path back to full contact slowly coming off his neck surgery. Unfortunately Thursday night’s collision happened without him having any choice as to how involved he wanted to be.

He’s trying to be that leader in the secondary while also balancing the aggressiveness of his play on the field. It cannot be an easy task for him. So hopefully he comes out of the collision with Dez Lewis without suffering a major setback in his road back to full contact play.3 – @ChrisBrownBills

Do you get tired of fans and media having a short rope with GMs and coaches?

@FitzCT

CB: I have been covering this team for the entire playoff drought and then some. I recognize and understand the frustration of Bills fans. They just want a winner, and they’re at the point where patience has run out and if they don’t think a GM or coach is capable of getting the team to the postseason they don’t want to wait around another year to see if the fortunes will change.

But in the NFL time and again it has been proven that continuity pays off more often than not. And constant change does not. Fortunately the Pegulas despite being young in the NFL ownership business understand this. So I anticipate them staying the course beyond this year.

Does that mean they’ll be satisfied if the team doesn’t reach the postseason in 2016? Absolutely not. They want to win, badly. And for that matter so does Doug Whaley and Rex Ryan.

4 – @ChrisBrownBills

How confident are you in the safety depth behind A. Williams and C. Graham?

@Seeairuhyo

CB: While I am encouraged by what I’ve seen from Robert Blanton in the practice setting and improved play from Jonathan Meeks, whose career has been interrupted by injuries, I need to see more in the preseason before I can feel comfortable with what the Bills have behind the two incumbent starters at safety.

Things look good on the practice field, but I want to see it translate to the game field for some hard evidence that the Bills are going to be okay there beyond their starters.

5 – @ChrisBrownBills

Hey Chris, if the Bills are in fact able to extend Taylor, would you expect Gilmore to get tagged if no deal is done? #Bills

@Josh_McCarty28

CB: Under your hypothetical situation the Bills could make use of the tag if necessary. Really the franchise tag would only buy the Bills some time in keeping Gilmore on the roster. Common ground ultimately has to be reached if Gilmore is to stay here long term.

I think Buffalo will have to be very creative to make a long term deal palatable to Gilmore in light of where the cornerback market has gone this offseason. Hopefully the Darius Slay deal with Detroit helps stabilize the going rate a bit more.

Bills safety Aaron Williams has been following one of Buffalo’s newest assistant coaches wherever he goes since the spring. Assistant secondary coach Ed Reed has been called the pied piper by head coach Rex Ryan and with good reason. Anyone who is destined to be a first ballot Hall of Famer warrants a following, especially of current Bills safeties hoping to have a career half as successful as the former Ravens pick artist.

Williams has been joined at the hip with Reed. Wherever Reed goes, Williams is right next to him. Reed was throwing Williams shoe top passes to force him to make difficult catches. He’s done a bunch of other drills off on the side when there’s a break in the practice for the defense.

Reed has also counseled Williams on how pivotal knowledge of your opponents and what everyone else in your defense is doing can be on your own game. The sixth-year safety has soaked it all up and hopes to apply it in 2016.

“You have a role model or a person you look up to that’s teaching you a lot of things that you don’t know and the guy’s done it all,” said Williams of Reed. “Hall of Famer, I mean, accolades can go forever. So, why not grasp everything you can from him? He’s doing a great job of not giving me everything at one point, all the secrets he knows. He just — work on something new everyday. So anything I can do to grasp what he knows, I’m there every second and every point in time.”

When we asked Williams what’s one of the more enlightening things Reed has passed on to him about knowledge of the game.

“Just making this game easier,” he said. “This game is a lot easier than you expect and knowing your scheme is the biggest thing. If you know your scheme and know your assignment, I mean, your play can be two times, three times faster than just going out there and being athletic and relying on your athleticism. Knowing what everybody does and put you in the right situations. What he did is knowing how everybody works and how you put yourself in a great position. So, he’s been teaching me that.”

Re-establishing his game after a neck injury allowed him to play in just three games in 2015, Aaron Williams is determined to prove to his teammates that they can count on him. As we covered in our Camp Countdown today Williams still has some hurdles to clear and some adjustments to make to his game coming off the neck injury, but it’s clear he wants to prove he can be relied upon just like he always has.

“I do whatever it takes for my team to win,” Williams said. “I’m giving it everything that I have in each game. I want the respect from my peers and let them know that if it does happen where the last game does happen for me, I want my peers to know that I gave everything I had each and every game. I never took a day off or slacked at any rep, I did it from the bottom of my heart for the love of this game, that I gave everything I have. That’s the respect I just want from my peers and from the fans.”

Williams has stated several times that he won’t know for sure what his future playing career holds until he makes that first hit later this summer, whether it’s in practice or the preseason.

The important thing is Williams has a clean bill of health.

“I passed all of the tests with flying colors. I had to go through the process with doctors and the trainers,” said Williams. “We went through it thoroughly and made sure that before I come back, make sure that everything is suitable for me to at least go out there and cover some guys here and there and that I’m not having trouble turning my neck or any source of that. Everything has been fine. Once again, I’ve been having a lot of fun being out there with my players and with the coaches.”

One position that was not addressed during the draft was safety and by the sound of it GM Doug Whaley doesn’t intend to add there any time soon.

With the promising outlook for Aaron Williams in his return from neck surgery and some budget free agent additions, the Bills like their depth there.

“With [Robert] Blanton and Colt Anderson and then Corey [Graham] coming back, Duke Williams, Jonathan Meeks… we’ve got a glut of safeties there and it is time for one of those guys to step up outside of Aaron [Williams] and if Aaron seems regress or have a medical issues, which we hope he doesn’t, we don’t expect him but injuries play in on it but we think we have some depth there,” Whaley said.

There is no guarantee in NFL football for any player, and Aaron Williams got a dose of that reality last season with his neck injury that cost him all but three games in 2015. But now with a clean bill of health Williams is optimistic about his future playing career and so is his head coach.

“I am optimistic,” said Rex Ryan of Williams future. “Aaron is not even on our offseason surgery list because he had surgery during the season. Aaron is ready to go. We feel confident in it. I don’t think he’ll truly be 100 percent or be the Aaron Williams we know until he hits somebody. He’s done everything else. He even did some scout team work as the season went on for us last year. We know he’s ready, but he’s still go to get over that first contact, but we feel very confident that he’ll be ready.”

The Bills finished the 2015 season not completely certain that Aaron Williams would be able to continue his playing career after he suffered a neck injury that cost him most of the 2015 season. But Bills GM Doug Whaley in an appearance on the John Murphy Show confirmed that Williams is good to go for the 2016 season.

“We’re leaning on the medical staff and we were assured by them that if we were in the playoff hunt (this past season) that Aaron would’ve been cleared to play,” said Whaley. “Medically he’s cleared and ready to go. Again those neck things are always tricky and we’d have to see once he gets out there and starts playing how he’s feeling. We do need some depth there, but I think this year another year of Corey Graham playing back there moving from corner to safety now he’s opening his eyes up to see the whole field so another year of learning that will help us too.”

It’s not looking like Aaron Williams will be added back to the active roster before the end of the regular season. Coming off a neck injury, Williams sounds like he’s committed to returning when OTAs begin in the spring.

“I’m going to be back next year, there no ifs, ands, or buts about it,” said Williams. “That’s just my mental state and that’s just what I really believe in. Rex (Ryan) is giving me this time to really get my neck to heal and I actually have more time to have it heal and let it rest. By the time OTA’s and minicamp next year I’ll be back.”

Williams did however, admit that he might not completely know about his future playing career until he’s in full contact and making tackles again.

“Yeah, truly won’t know until the first day of full pads and do contact,” he said.

Bills safety Aaron Williams is still biding his time on short term injured reserve. Coming off his neck injury he’s been cleared to practice for the past two weeks, but he has yet to cleared for contact. Williams has spent most of his team reps on the scout team getting the starters ready for their upcoming opponent. As for a timetable for his full return, there just doesn’t seem to be one at this point.

“Still not real sure on that,” said head coach Rex Ryan as to whether Williams will return to the active roster this season. “I like the fact that he’s out here practicing and he’s moving well, but it’s the contact. It’s hard to say absolutely and things like that because right now he’s not ready for contact.”

Williams has two more weeks that he can practice with the team on the Reserve/Injured Designated to Return list. After he has practiced over a 21-day period, which ends on Dec. 31st the team will need to decide whether to add him to the 53-man roster or place on season-ending injured reserve.

The safety said he’ll know if his career should continue after his first hit. When that hit comes, whether it is this season or next season is the question.

Head coach Rex Ryan gave pretty firm indication that Aaron Williams, though he returned to practice last week, would not be fit to play in Week 14 or this week against Washington. On Monday he re-affirmed that stance.

“He’s been practicing so I think that’s good,” said Ryan. “Do I expect him to play? No I don’t. We will err on the side of caution with that type of injury with the neck. So that’s a given.”

Williams is coming off neck surgery that landed him on the short term injured reserve list back in October. The safety outlined his progress last week and is hoping to return to the field before the season is over.